Marketing Trends to Watch Out For in 2018

Marketing Trends to Watch Out For in 2018

The yesteryear had been a generous year for businesses with regards to marketing. But now that a new year has come, the ability to merchandise continues to evolve in such a way that previous years’ practices either becomes obsolete or remains as part of the traditional practice.

But the year 2018 is not just about getting businesses and technology more entangled than ever in reaching to a wider audience or building a more solid consumer base, it also comes with a budding sense of realization that some practices are to become the trend which will set this year apart from the previous.

Technology-driven Trends

With our devices getting smarter and smarter by the day, how we do things in life becomes more efficient. Putting the same benefit in commerce, more and more businesses opt to consider adopting technology in making things more favorable to them.

Voice-enabled technology

Forget about having to tap on the touchscreen when making queries with the use of a smart device, in today’s time, “voice technology” is the new king. What had been a feature only found in science fiction has indeed become a reality and is about to take the world by storm by taking human voice as a valid input.

LinkedIn as a go-to social media

LinkedIn has entrenched itself as a social media platform for many working professionals for many years now since it started rolling. This year is no different. In fact, like the years before, LinkedIn is poised to become the “social butterfly” of many people, whether presently in the workforce or not.

LinkedIn’s main selling points as a platform is its capability to network people, provide engaging content, and connect average working individuals to some of the thought leaders in the industry.

Snapchat losing marketing engagement

The year 2017 was poised at Snapchat reigning as the so-called “hottest marketing tool” by targeting the now-dominant Millennials and the entering Generation Z in the workforce. But despite this anticipation, the social media platform had seen a decline in the number of users, to a drop of 33% from the total.

While the remaining 70% still makes a larger number of fish in the sea, this could mean sticking to more solid social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Rise of the artificial intelligence

Although still developing, the integration of a “smarter” artificial intelligence in our technology will make our interaction with computers a more straightforward process. Current employees in line with customer support should rest easy knowing that this A.I. technology is not yet bright enough to take them off their cubicles.

However, according to Smart Insights, 2018 might be the year whereby artificial intelligence and machine learning will have the 3rd largest impact on marketing. Salesforce, on the other hand, foresees this technology having significant relevance when running campaigns and to those who underperform in their jobs.

Traditional Marketing

So, it’s true that from 2018 onwards, technology may be playing a large part in the marketing trends. But this does not mean to say that the old way of selling is left to dust by being forgotten. Contrarily, there are still practices from the past that will still remain relevant to this day, more so possibly than the previous years.

Branding takes a new approach

Since the inception of commerce, people had been bombarded with hard sells which, to be honest, many people are not really too comfortable at. The year 2018 is the time where businesses take on a different way at branding themselves: by focusing on the brand’s personal story and not a bunch of hocus-pocus that the masses do not really understand.

Further growth of influencer marketing

Although the past couple of years have been mostly favorable towards macro-influencers who makes use of their massive following, this year will see the attention shifted towards the lesser popular—micro-influencers—which, statistically, was said to generate a larger impact in campaign engagement.

In addition, 2018 will also become the year where companies will tap on its often neglected but invaluable resources to marketing as advocates—the employees.

Lastly, there will also be a shift from getting focused to just running off campaigns to keeping engagements via the influencer which highlights the mutual value in the process. Essentially the ambassador for the company, influencers will play the critical role in marketing this year.

“Info-training” through content experiences

An influencer for a company is more than just a face that represents a particular brand or product, the authority he built for himself is also a crucial element in delivering contents that are not only believable but also engaging. This had been a popular tool in the past about marketing and this year is no different.

Deeper look into data for data-inspired marketing

Not many companies tap on the data at their disposal to the fullest extent. Generally, only 12% of these data are being used in a way that reflects how many businesses operated their marketing for the last couple of years. The year 2018 is the year by which companies are opting to tap on the remaining 88% to make a more effective marketing that sustains profitability and growth.

Proliferation of video marketing

With videos becoming a more popular medium as ever on the internet, many customers and marketers are getting attracted to live streams that deliver the content in real-time. Along with this growth is the increase in the use of credible platforms like the video streaming site, YouTube, and social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Periscope which also utilize videos in their own respective ecosystem.

Good business practice and privacy

News about data breaches and selling of consumer information are but some of the issues of the past several years which had some clients running from transacting online in business. Coming with the realization that all in the consumer base place value in the security of their privacy, many companies are learning that, in order to keep their clients, they must respect their private information from leaking out.

20 Comments:

I like how the article have pinned point different social medias and how it can be utilized in this article, now I can be more knowledgeable and aware on what are the specific sites I can visit and use aside from the well known ones like fb or tweeter. I liked how YouTube was emphasized as am area to market, like advertisement before the most visited videos is really a bright idea. I think, I could think more outside the box now and see opportunities of business through the use of social medias, it gives me different perspective aside from seeing it only as for entertainment.

Marketing, particularly digitally-driven marketing, is a fast-evolving trend —so fast that even when a particular market begins to “adopt” and experience penetration, there would be another new-comer that would threaten the ecosystem.

Take for example the case of Snapchat: they first popularized the feature called “Snaps” which took the young generation by storm. A “snap” allows you to take photos or videos that enable your social network to comment privately – saving you from red blushes over awkward public comments. That’s why Facebook tried to buy her enemy for $3,000,000,000— spot cash. But SnapChat refused. And since Facebook and Instagram were proactive (and shameless enough) to win the race, they bravely and mercilessly copied “Snap-like” features and even those effects turning your face to funny cats and long-tongued dogs. And as this blog says, SnapChat has been experiencing losing battles. Now, Zuckerberg has won his audience (and income) because he (or his marketers) were proactive enough to respond to the market trends that surround them.

As marketers and students of it, we must be relentlessly proactive in the way we integrate marketing to the life of a business or entity- because the market is an indication of life- and where there is life, there is change- and it’s successful marketing is about successfully managing change.

Great article as always sir! I learned a lot reading this, what i like the most is the linkedin platform, it’s the first time i have heard this to be honest. I will try using this now. We are very lucky to have these tools right now and a very intelligent instructor. Good read!

Besides from the people who invented them, who can imagine that these technologies would exist and the outcome would be this beneficial to all and more importantly for our businesses. Dispute with all of the exist high-end technologies that and for all the upcoming in the near future, keep on coming and continue to amaze us. I just hope that we use it for us to succeed in life and with good intentions.

The advancement of technology is a wonderful thing. However, we must also be cautious of its uses and the effects it brings to our environment. Industrialization and technology always come hand in hand. We’ve been advancing technology for the last 20 years and it’s not about to atop anytime soon. With that said, I hope more innovators can think of an eco-friendly approach in creating technology. Not saying that there are lesser environment-friendly creators, just saying that ALL creators of technology should think about the environment too. Because what’s the use of technology when this planets inhabitants can’t live long enough to enjoy it? Just my thoughts.

Technology keeps on upgrading from time to time in order for us to be more productive and to gain more sales. Many have been trending these days from social media due to the influence of “Buy and Sell” and “Online Hiring/Recruiting” a big help to those who are seeking either job or sales stuffs. So far Technology gives more ways to expand market, more people bringing together and more benefit to employee/employer. So for me a big thumbs up and kudos to people who keeps on upgrading technology on the aspect of Marketing and Business. Many thanks to the author a really great help for us.

A technological future has been inevitable. We all agree that in the present, we can barely live without technology. The same thing in the world of marketing. Its a marvel how businesses progress. From newspapers to posters to TV ads to social media and other unimaginable ways like artificial intelligence. It is amazing how all of these has provided the people with convenience and a rapid growth in their businesses.

Technology creates a big impact in today’s generation, as we embrace quick change in social media site. As a new format evolving everyday devices become more powerful and ranging to catch easily the attention of customers. However, always convey the importance of traditional marketing as the base of digital social media because the combination of both can create a big impression and by adding some contrivances and adjustments.

Growing of technology is now faster than the years before to make an easier daily life.To inspire more people to use some new invent gadjets that can change others expectation in just a couple of minute such as advertisement,selling and more that concern and benifit to thier business…Now adays the faster to connect each other the faster the business growth and success..Thank for this as article it really motivate me

Its fascinating how technology evolves nowadays , not a surprise that it would become more advanced several years from now . Businesses will benefit from these technological advancement as it would greatly impact revenues and the way they run it. Different outstanding ideas and inventions are being formulated for the upcoming years to make it even more efficient and reliable .

Technological change in marketing strategy has become very beneficial in the business world. It become the driving force of innovation, productivity and growth. Developing new technology trend maybe difficult to do but if you have an idea it can be used to make business easier to be known and expanded. And of course, we should not forget the old practices that already created big legacie. After all, old and new business trends would be a great challenge proven path from existiing application to discovery.

Kudos!!! To Sir Jojo M Vito for making this article. This article can provide marketing students and also future businessman have an idea on what business they would like to create or put up in the future. It can be a basis on how to change or adopt to changes in the world of business. Through the use of advance technology. In just one click who knows you’re earning/gaining income. It can help business to be profitable. For me as a marketing student in can provide me information/idea on what would be my thesis.

A very informative article that could really help us as we engage in the world of business. The current trends and issues in marketing should be utilized by us and ofcourse not forgetting the traditional way. Both plays a vital role and goes hand in hand.

The fast raging technology had made lives easier and more convenient, in the past years we experienced things that may seem difficult but since we have these new technologies we embraced those changes, from an old book worm to a wattpad reader, we used to go to a library to do research but now we just opened our gadgets and just a click away we can see what we are looking for, marketing may seem that easy because it we have this evolving technologies.

I really admired the inventions of these amazing trends especially the voice-enabled technology. In the world today, technologies have slowly taken an essential part in people’s day-to-day lives. These will surely give us a chance to explore deeply the world of marketing. Being without them would be unimaginable for many of us. Thanks for the none ending inventions of human brains.

Digital marketing will really create a great impact this year and in the coming years. Everyone’s doing nothing but stare, scroll and browse on their smartphones and using the world wide web as a main part of your marketing strategy will be a big help to the business. But still, nothing beats the traditional marketing trends as these has been tested and proven over the past years.

Amazing article , it helps us a lot on what to foresee this coming 2018 ,especially the AI technology when it comes to business. Social media will become a big help for online businesses this coming 2018. As we progress so as technology and the way we practice to merchandise evolves.